Why Are Ships Painted Red?

Editorial Summary

The creator explains the historical and practical reasons why the undersides of ships are traditionally painted red. He begins by discussing the challenges of the marine environment, noting how saltwater causes wood to rot and metal to rust. In the era of wooden sailing ships, marine growth like barnacles slowed vessels down, and shipworms threatened to eat the timber. To combat this, sailors eventually used copper sheathing, which often turned green in the water. With the transition to iron and steel hulls, a new problem emerged: corrosion. In 1865, Heinrich Raan patented an anti-fouling paint formula designed to protect hulls and prevent marine growth through the use of toxic ingredients like arsenic and mercury oxide. The distinctive red color came from the inclusion of Venetian red, a pigment made from iron oxide that was both extremely durable and inexpensive. Over time, this functional necessity evolved into a maritime tradition. The creator also notes that while many modern cruise ships appear to have blue or green waterlines, this is often just a decorative boot topping applied over the standard dull red anti-fouling paint.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.